Automatic electric control device



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,582

J. F. WIGGERT AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 12, 1927 /HER M0 702 I INVENTOR. Jo/m ['M'ggert ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN F. WIGGERT, OF LEAD, SOUTH DAKOTA.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed April 12, 1927. Serial 1V0. 183,157.

The present invention relates to an electric controlling system or device for automatically regulating pressures or the like, and a system more particularly adapted for maintaining a substantially constant pressure or liquid level in a pipe line, tank, canal, or the like, and which may be actuated by any varying condition, such as through the medium of a pressure-actuated regulator, a thermostat or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a system of contacts and relays wherein the fluttering or erratic action of the relay is prevented and wherein the contacts are closed positively, and the devices of the system are positively closed in the various circuits or are positively cut out of the circuits without any tendency to vibrate.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a timerwhich, when set in motion, must complete a predetermined cycle of operation and which limits the maximum time during which the controlling element may operate to perform itsspecific function, but which depends on'other instrumentalities for limiting the minimum time of operation ofthe instrumentality.

' The invention further aims at the provision of a novel grouping or combination of relays with contacts and a time controlled device for regulating-a valve or other device, which directly increases or decreases hydrostatic pressure, or as applicable to other in- .strumentalitie s depending upon the work to be controlled by the system.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, the figure is a diagrammatic illustration ot one form of electric controlling system of this invention. Referring to the drawing, the system is shown, and will be described, with particular reference to the control of hydrostatic pressure in a pipe line, tank or the like and suitable spaced apart points with pairs of binding nuts 15, three pairs being shown in the present instance, and between each pair or binding nuts is secured the free end portion of a flexible contact arm, three contact arms 16, 17 and 18 being shown. The contact arms 16, 17 and 18 are anchored at 19 at their inner ends. The contact arm 16 is provided at opposite sides near its inner end with opposed fixed contact points 20 and 21, which are spaced a slight distance at opposite sides of the arm 16. A second pair of contact points 22 and 23 are arranged at opposite sides of the arm 16, but toward its free end, and are spaced from the contact arm a greater distance than the contacts 20 and 21, so that the latter contacts first engage the arm 16 when it is swung and the outer contacts 22 and 23 subsequently engage the arm.

In a similar manner, the contact arm 17 has inner closely spaced contacts 24: and 25 and outer widely spaced contacts 26 and 27. The contact arm 18 has the inner contacts 28 and 29 and the outer contacts 30 and 31, similarly located at opposite sides of the arm 18. Any desired number of these sets of contacts, each with a contact arm connected ,to the rod 13, may be employed. It is necessary, however, that these contacts be so disposed relatively to their contact arms 16, 17 and 18 that the contacts of the arm 16 are first closed on movement of the rod 13, fur- .ther movement of the rod closing the contacts of the arm 17, and a still further movement of therod 13'finally closes the contacts of the arm 18.

The first set of contacts, of the arm 16, C011- trol the operation and locking of relays 32 and 33. The contact 20 is connected by wire 34 to a fixed contact 35 of the relay 32, which is engaged by armature contact 35 when the armature 37 of the relay is closed. The contact- 36 is connected by wire 37 to wire 38, which leads to the contact 22 of the arm 16. The wire 38 also leads directly to the wind ings of the relay 32 for energizing the latter when the contact 22 is close From the windings or the relay 32, a wire 39 is carried to a fixed contact 40 of the relay 33 and normally closes a circuit through the armature 11 with the negative bus bar 42 of the system.

The contact 21 of the arm 16 is connected by wire 43 to fixed contact 1 1 of the relay 33, which is. engaged by contact 45 of the armalit) ture 41, and the contact 45 is connected by wire 46 t wire47, which leads to the outer contact 23. The wire 47 leads through the windings of the relay, 3'3, and a wire 48 from the windings is carried to fixed contact 49 y of the relay 32 andis closed in circuit through the armature 37 with a wire 50,x

which leads to the negative bus bar 42.

An operating motor 51 is used and has a shaft 52 for connection with a needle valve, or other device to be actuated and controlled by the system. The field of the motor 51 has one lead 53 extending to fixed contact 54 of the relay 32 and has a branch wire 55 leading to a fixed contact 56 on the relay 33.

The other lead 57 of thefield of the motor f 51 leads to a fixed contact 58 of the relav 32 andhas a branchwire 59 leading to a'fixed contact 60 of the relay 33. The armature of the motor'51'has a lead 61, which is con 'nected toafixed'contact '62 of the relay 32 and has a branch wire 63, which leads to j fixed'contact 64 ofthe relay 33. The other tacts 56 and 64.

lead 66' from the armature is connected to a fixed contact 67 of the relay 32 and has a branch wire 68 which leads to a fixedcontact 69 of the relay 33. These field and armature contacts of the motor 51 are closed when the relays 32 and 33 are energize-cl. The positive bus bar 7 0 is connected by branch wires 71 to armature contact 72 of the relay 32. which bridges the fixed contacts 62 and 58, to close the same when the armature is actuated. The positive bus bar 70 also has a branch wire 7 3, which is connected toarmature contact 74 of the relay 33 to'bridge con- The sets of contacts for the arms 17 and 18 have respectively relays 75 and 7 6. The

winding of the relay 7 5 is connected by wire 77 to outer contact 27 andby branch wire 78 to outer contact 26. The wire 77 is also connected to armature contact 79 of the armature 80 0f the relay'75. and thecontact 79 is adapted to close against a fixed contact 81, which has wire 82 leadingto the inner contact 25 and abranch wire 83. which leads toinner contact 24. The winding of the re- My 7 5 is connected by wire 84, which leads to the negative bus bar'42 and by branch wire 85 to the winding of the relay 76. which winding is also connected by wire86 to the outer contact 30 of the arm 18. The branch wire'87 alsoleads to the outer contact 31. The armature 88 of the relay 7 6 carries a contact- 89, which is connected to wire 86 and adapted'to engage a fixed contact 90 connectedby wire 91 to the inner contact 28 and by branch wire 92 to the opposed.

inner contact 29. r The relay 76 has a fixed contact 93 connected by wire94 to a-timer. which will be later described, and which is engaged by a contact 95 on the armature 88, connected by a wire 96, which. also leads to said timer. The armature 80 carries a conand is adapted to engage a fixedcontact 98,

which is connected by wire 99 to the contact arm 16 of the firstset of contacts and by branch wire 100 to said timer. The contact arms 17 and 18 are connected to a wire 101 which leads to the positive bus bar 70.

The timer comprises a shaft 102, which is driven by a timer motor 103, having one lead 104 connected to the negative bus bar 42 and a second lead 105, which is connected to the fixed contact 62 of relay 32 through the wire '61. The wire 105' base branch 106'which leads to a ring contact 107, which is traversed by an arm 108. mounted on the shaft 102. The arm 108 normally lies in a gap at one side of the ring 107- and is thus normally out or" contact withthe ring. Concentrically about the ring 107 is a row of spaced segments adapted tobe traversed by the arm 108 and which are arranged in groups in any suitable manner. such as follows: The wire 94 from the relay 76is"con nected to one group of segments'109. the segments being connected together by connectors or wires110, so that there arefour segments in the group. The wire 100. is connected to a group of segments'lll. which may be four in number as shown. and joined by connectors or wires 112. It will be noted that one of the segments 111 is normally engaged; by the arm 108, so that the wire is in contact with the arm 108 when the timer is at rest, and also during the initial move wires 114 or connectors of any suitable tvpe,

and this group is connected th wire 96. 'The arm 108 therefore traverses three groupsor setsot segments comprising four each and which'are connected to wires 100 96 and 94, respectively. The shaft 102 is connected by wire 115 to the positive bus bar 70.

In operation. when the device hasthe motor shaft 52 connected to a needle valveof a hydraulic pipe line, and the pressure diaphragm gauge 10also connected to the pipe line for operation upon the increase and decrease in the pressure in the pipe line. clec tric current from any suitable source is connected to the positive and negative bus bars 70 and 42, andfthe system works as fol- "arm 108, segment 111, wire 100, wire 99,

contact arm16, contact 22, wire 38, to re lay windings 32, wire 39, contact 40, back through negative bus bar 42. The "relay 32 is thus energized and the armature 37 thereof is swung-over into closed position for bridging the various pairs ot'contacts of the relay and also for closing the contacts 35 and 36. As soon contacts 35'and 36 are closed, the contact 22 is shunted by contact 20 and the contact 20 is included in the circuit through the relay 32, so that when the Contact arm 16 leaves the contact 22, the relay will remain energized and the' system will be kept or locked in the set position by the shunting contacts and 36.

The closing otthe relay 32 closes the circuit from the bus bars 70 and 42 through the wires 71 and contacts 62 and 58 to the needle valve motor 51, and back through contacts 54 and 67. The needle valve'motor is thus set in motion, and at the same time the timer motor 103 is caused to operate. The circuit through the timer motor is as follows: positive bus bar 70, wire 71, b 'idge piece 72 of the armature 37, contact 62, wires 61 and 105 to motor 103, and thence over wire 10% to the negative bus bar 42. As

long as the pressure is maintained against the gauge 10, the relay 32 will remain closed and the needle valve motor 51 continue to run until. the contact arm 108 of the timer reaches the segment 113, at which time the circuit from the positive-bus bar will be broken and the relay 32 de-energizechand the motor 51 stopped. The contact arm 108, however, will continue to travel until itreaches its starting position, shown in the diagram, as the ring 107 is continuous with the exception of the single gap at the starting position.

It, in the meantime, the pressure in the pipe line has decreased so that the contact arm 16 leaves the contact 22, the relay-32 will not be energized, and consequently the timer motor will not start. The contact arm 16 and the arrangement of the fixed con tacts at opposite sides thereof connected in the circuits as above described, provide several novel features important to this invention.

First, the wiping contact arm'108 ot the timer can interrupt the circuit to the relay 32, although the stationary contact 20', or both the contact 20 and the contact 22, may be in contact with the arm 16. Also, after the circuit to the relay 32has been broken by the wiper arm 108, it cannot be re established by any movement of the wiper arm when the contact 20 only is connected to the arm' 16. Second, the made between instant that the contact is the arm 16 and the contact 22, relay 32, is closed and locked. in such posit-ion through the interlocking contacts and 36, provided that the wiper arm 108 of the timer is in proper position. If the wiper dle valve motor a 1 arm' 108 is not in proper position, the circuit cannot'be closed through the relay unless the relays and 76 are closed.

Third, the movement of the wiper arm 108 determines the maximum time that the neemay operate per revolution of the arm 108, regardless of whether the'pressure changes, provided, of course, that relay 76 remains inactive. The limit ingof' the time during which the needle valve motor 51 n ay operate for a given period, is very important. It the motor 51 were allowed to run continually until the rod 13 moved the contact arm 16 far enough to break connection with contact 20, the needle valve would be opened so far that the pressure would continue to drop to such an extent that the contact would be made between arm l6 and stationary contacts 21 and 23. This would operate the relay 33 and run the needle valve motor 51 in the opposite direction, to close the valve. The latter operation, in turn, would be over-done and the pressure would quickly rise. The contacts 21 and 23 would be broken and the contacts'20 and 22 reestablished. This fluctuating action is generally known as hunting and is seriously objectionable in all types of systems. It is evident that the correcting force must be restrained, at least temporarily, before the changing pressure begins to operate the lever 12 of the pressure dia phragm' gauge 10. As the segments compos ing the outer ring of the timer are connected together in groups, the needle valve inotor 51 can continue to run until the wiper arm 108 reaches the second group of segments 113, or during one-third of a revolution of the arm 108. lVhile the arm is completin'g'th'e remaining two-thirds of its travel, the correcting influence produced by the needle valve motor 51 will have considerable time to'become effective on the diaphragm on the pressure gauge. It the needle valve motor 51 is started by a sli ht contact between'the arm 16 and the contacts 20 and it is quite probable that the pressure will be corrected before the contact arm makes a complete revolution, and the arm will stop as soon as it arrives at the starting point, be-

cause the contacts 20 and 22 will have been his the needle valve motor 51 will stop the instant contact is open or broken at or 21, regardless of the position of the wiper arm 108; and,

Sixth, while the timer limits the maximum "time during which the needle valve motor 51 can operate, the limit is not fixed arbitrarily at one point for all conditions of operation. For example, if the pressure should continue to rise after the arm 16 has made contact at 20 and 22, the operating lever 12 would continue toinove in the direction of the arrow and the contacts 2 1 and 26 would be closed with the arm 17, energizing relay 75 and locking it in closed position as long as the contact 24 engages the arm 17, In the closed position of relay 75, the contacts 97 and .98 are together connecting the segments 111 of thetimer, in the first group thereof, with the group of segments 113, the second group of segments, so as to extend the time during which the needle valve motor 51 can operate. If the pressure still continues to rise in the pipe line, the rod 13 a'ndleverlQ will be further moved in the direction of the arrow so as to bring the. third contact arm 18 against its fixed contacts 28 and 30. It will, of course, be noted that the inner contact 28 is disposed vcloserto the arm 18 than is the contact 30, so that the contacts will be closed successively, and each inner contact throughout the series is consecutively spaced a greater distance from its adjacent arm, 16 and 17 and 18, so that the sets of contacts can be closed only in consecutive order.

When the contacts 28 and are closed through their contactarm 18, the relay 76 is first closed and then locked in closed position, so as to include. the third group of segments 109 in the circuit of the wiping arm 108 to further prolong the length of operation of the needle valve motor 51.

Itis apparent that the timer may comprise additional groupsof segments, andthat additionalgroups ofcontacts may be employed for controlling such groups of segments.

Upon the decrease in pressure, the reverse contacts 21 and 23, 25 and 27, and 29 and 31, are successively closed, so as to operate the reversing relay .33 and then the relays 7 5 and 76 are successively brought into operation to prolong'the action of the needle valve motor 51. 1 Y

It is understood that this system is. applicable to different devices to be controlled other than pipe lines andthat theonly modifications required would be in the diaphragm gauge 10 and the device connected to the motor shaft 52. The system itself would require nomodifications except perhaps in the numbers of groups of contacts 7 and numbers of relays in the relay groups. Director alternating current may be used to operate the system and no particular voltage tor running.

is required, as a currentof any. reasonable voltage may be used, such as generally found in use with control devices of differentkinds.

The speed of the wiper arm 108 may, of course, be determined by the nature of the service of the individual regulator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: a

and disposed to close a circuit through the contacts whenclosed and in normal position of rest, forward and reverse relays connected to said first group of contacts for alternate closing in said circuit of the timer when said element isshifted in one direction and the other, an operating motor in circuit through said relays for driving the motor in forward and reversed directions dependent upon the selection of the energized relay, and means associated with saidtimer and said remaining consecutive groups of contacts for prolonging the circuit closing action of the timer proportionate to-the number of group circuits closed, andlmeans controlled by said relays for operating the timer.

2. In an automatic electric control system, a pair of contacts, variable means for closing the contacts; consecutively, a circuit including a timer, a 880131011 011 the timer connected to sald varlable means forclosing the circuit through said contacts, a'relay connected to said contacts and having shunting contacts thereon disposed between said first contacts, whereby upon the closing of both of said contacts the relay is energized and maintained energized subsequent to the opening of one of the contacts, a motor for said timer in circuit? through said relay adapted for operation when the relay is energized, a plurality of independent segments for the timer, a relay for each segment, groups of contactsfor each relay of each segment, said variable means connected to said last-named contacts whereby to sue 'cessively close the samersubsequent -to the closing of said first contacts, and means connected to the timing motor for traversing said segments to maintain the operating mo- 3. In an automatic electric control system, three groupsof contacts, pressure regulated means for consecutively closing the groups of contacts, the contacts of each group arranged in opposed relation and adapted to be closed upon increase and decrease of pressure, a pair of relays connected to the oppositecontacts of the first group, a driving motor arranged in circuit through said relays to operate the motor in forward and ice reversed direction, a timer in circuit with the relays through said first group of contacts, a timer motor in circuit through said relays for starting the timer when the relays are energized, and means on the timer controlled by the second and third groups of contacts for prolonging the operation of the operating motor.

4. In an automatic electric control system, a circuit closer, a relay in circuit therewith and adapted to be energized when the circuit is closed through the circuit closer, a timer having a motor in circuit through the relay for starting when the relay is energized, contacts on the timer, a wiper arm on the timer traversing said contacts for maintaining the circuit closed through the relays and the operating motor, and independent contact means associated with the timer for connecting the timer contacts in series to prolong the time of operation of the op erating motor.

5. In an automatic electric control system, a pair of contacts, a contact arm arranged to consecutively engage said contacts, a circuit including said contact arm, a relay connected to the second one of said contacts for energizing the relay when said arm engages the second contact, a shunt connection between said contacts and closed upon the energizing of the relay whereby said contact arm may leave one of said contacts and the relay is maintained locked in energized position, and timing means included in circuit with said contact arm for limiting the closing of the circuit through the relay.

6. In an automatic electric control system, a flexible contact arm, a circuit including said arm, a pair of contacts arranged at opposite sides of the contact arm and spaced outwardly from the arm at increasing distances from the inner to the outer end of the arm, whereby the inner contacts at either side of the arm may be first closed and subsequently the outer contacts may be closed, a relay connected to each outer contact, a shunt connection through each relay between the inner and outer contacts whereby when the relays are energized the shunt contacts will be closed and the relays locked in energized position, an operating motor connected reversely through the relays to be operated in a direction according to the selected relay, and a timer controlling the operation of the motor when driven through the selected relay.

7. In an automatic electric control system, a series of groups of contacts, forward and reverse relays for the first group of contacts, an operating motor connected to said relays to be driven in forward and reversed directions upon the closing of the relays, a timer in circuit with said groups of contacts, and timer controlling relays associated with the remaining groups of contacts for determining the time of operation of the operating motor.

JOHN F. WIGGERT. 

